Tue Nov 05 13:06:10 UTC 2024: ## Supreme Court of Pakistan Faces Internal Dispute over Chief Justice Appointment
**Islamabad, November 5, 2024** – A dispute over the appointment of Pakistan’s Chief Justice has created a rift within the Supreme Court, with two senior judges demanding immediate hearings for petitions challenging a recent constitutional amendment.
Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar, the top two judges in seniority, have publicly accused Chief Justice Yahya Khan Afridi of delaying the hearing on the controversial 26th Constitutional Amendment. This amendment, passed in 2024, granted legislators greater influence in appointing the Chief Justice, effectively allowing Justice Afridi to assume the role instead of Justice Shah, who would have been the next in line under previous rules.
The two justices, who are part of the committee responsible for fixing cases, had decided to hold a full court hearing on the amendment on November 4th. However, Chief Justice Afridi declined to convene the session, leading to the two judges sending him a second letter expressing their concerns over the postponement.
“This matter impacts not only judicial authority but also public confidence in the legal process,” stated the letter.
Legal analysts say the dispute is highly unusual for the Pakistani judiciary, particularly on matters of constitutional interpretation. The Chief Justice’s refusal to convene a full court suggests he may be avoiding potential political entanglements.
As the dispute continues, legal circles and the public anxiously await the Chief Justice’s response on whether the petitions will be heard in the coming weeks. This ongoing standoff within the Supreme Court has raised serious questions about the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.
First Piper 